Thursday Afternoon News, November 29th

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about another new scam that appears as an email message. The email message falsely uses the name of a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy. Lt. Jeff TeBrink says
officers were first alerted to the scam Thursday morning.

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Conservation Board submitted its annual report to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. Nick Beeck, the Conservation Board Executive Director informed the county governing board camping has been steadily increasing.

Beeck reported to the county supervisors the total collected from camping fees generated $36,150 which was slightly lower than the previous year when the Conservation Board had collected $36,260. Beeck says the Conservation Board provided 1,904 camper unit nights during the year. Beeck says the use
of the picnic shelter house increased from last year collecting $550 this year compared to last year of receiving just $100. The Plymouth County Conservation Board has available two camping cabins for rental. Cabin fees collected $3,195 for the nights occupied, compared to last year of $4,992.
Where the Plymouth County Conservation Board had excelled was with educational programs. Beeck says a total of 7,595 people were reached through 230 programs, bringing in $2,994 which was in line with budget projections. Beeck says the rental of the Dennis Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning has generated some revenue and continues to grow in popularity.

The County Conservation Board was able to collect $6,125 from the rental of the Outdoor Learning Center which compares to the $5,500 collected from the previous year. Beeck informed the supervisors the two highlights of the year for the Conservation Board were the installation of the new playground equipment, and the acquisition of the 305 acres of the Newberg ground, which more than doubled the size of Hillview Recreation Area.

Iowa Corrections Has Worker Fine Reduced

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s workplace safety agency has reduced a fine by nearly 90 percent for violations at Iowa’s maximum-security prison that put staff at risk during emergencies.
The Iowa Department of Corrections will pay a $5,000 fine for
violations at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison under a settlement agreement with Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro’s office.
Regulators working under Mauro initially proposed a $49,500 fine after citing the department for 21 serious violations at the prison, which houses 700 of the state’s most dangerous inmates.
An inspection found that officers’ radios could malfunction or fail
during violent incidents, including two assaults last year in which problems slowed or prevented emergency responses. Inspectors also found widespread confusion over emergency procedures due to inadequate planning and training.
The department had contested the violations. The settlement withdraws 1 violation and reduces the penalties associated with others. It gives the department until March 1 to fix problems.

Inmates Suing The State In Order To Receive Pornography Material

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Nearly 60 Iowa inmates who want their porn back are suing the state of Iowa.
The 58 inmates at the Fort Dodge prison are seeking $25,000 each in damages. Their lawsuit blames the ban on “religious tyrants” who have no regard for the U.S. Constitution or Declaration of Independence.
The federal lawsuit was filed in Des Moines before a new law that took effect Nov. 14 shut down designated “pornography reading rooms” in Iowa’s prisons. The law says Corrections Department funds can’t be used to distribute or make available to inmates any commercially published information or material that is sexually explicit or features nudity.
The law reverses a policy in place since a 1988 federal court decision that the state’s prison rules on pornography were unconstitutionally vague.
Corrections spokesman Cord Overton says state prisoners were advised in July that the changes would take effect in mid-November.